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Comment: Ex-library book. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting.

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Coyote finds trouble wherever he goes. Now he wants to sing, dance, and fly like the crows, so he begs them to teach him how. The crows, however, decide to teach Coyote a lesson instead. This is the third volume in Gerald McDermott’s series of Trickster Tales. “Bold shapes and expansive double spreads (as well as an economically pared text) recommend the book for story hours large or small; pair it with McDermott’s more mystical Raven for some vibrant cross-cultural contrast.”--The Bulletin

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McDermott (Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest) continues to mine the rich vein of Native American folklore, here unearthing a lively Zuni tale. The fiery colors of the Southwest's rain-parched landscape serve as backdrop for the antics of Coyote, whose vainglorious wish to fly like the crows and be "the greatest coyote in all the world" sets him up for a mighty fall from grace. Coyote's "nose for trouble" leads him to a playful flock of crows, who indulge his wish to fly by lending him their feathers. They soon tire of his rude, boastful ways, however, and cash in on the loan mid-flight. The feckless Coyote's subsequent spectacular tumble from the sky burns his tail and lands him first in a puddle, then in the dust. As always, McDermott offers up a splendid tale, perfectly paced for an amusing read-aloud. His illustrations are equally accomplished, ablaze with color and abounding with the angular symbols and forms of the Pueblo people's pottery and textile designs. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A short, uncomplicated story in which Coyote decides he wants to fly with the crows. They humor him, give him feathers, and tolerate his offkey singing and out-of-step dancing, until he begins to boast and order them about. Then, as Coyote struggles in midair, they take back their feathers one by one and he plummets to earth. His tail catches fire, and he tumbles into the dirt. To this day he is the color of dust and his tail has a burnt, black tip. The full-page illustrations, executed in gouache, colored pencil, and pastels, are brilliantly colored, with bold patterns, angular forms, and orange backgrounds. Children will enjoy the visual portrayal of Coyote, who is blue, vain, eager, and heedless of consequences, and they will laugh at the pictures of the various troubles he gets himself into at the start of the book. Although the art communicates Coyote's vivid personality, the story is not as charming as some of McDermott's other trickster tales. There is less cleverness, humor, and buoyancy, and more antagonism, in this story. Coyote is a troublemaker, of course, but his antics often make readers laugh. Also, he seems less fully realized than some of the author's previous characters. Still, the book provides an introduction to an important folklore character and is strikingly illustrated. There are no notes on the story's source, but McDermott does provide a note on Coyote and refers to the people of the Pueblo of Zuni as excelling in telling Coyote tales.Marilyn Iarusso, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Top customer reviews

McDermott has such a beautiful way of bringing these stories to life. I started with Raven and have been hooked ever since. My 4 month old loves the patterns and contrasting colors in each of his books. What's also great about them is that they are easy to memorize when you need to tell them a story and you don't have it with you.

Another great book for my second grade students. It helps meet our state learning goal of reading folk tales from other cultures and it's an Accelerated Reader book so my students can take an AR quiz once they finish reading it!

Being an admirer of Coyotes since my childhood in Kansas, and with my farmer-philosopher father noting their beneficial role in controlling jack rabbit populations, and loving their calls in the evening from three corners in my square-mile world--timberwolves managed the fourth corner--I simply have high regard for prairie coyotes slight-ness and voices. Accused of all sorts of mayhem, I suspect were not of their doing. No wonder the native Americans honored their survival skills amid their bigger brothers.

Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest is a cleverly-told Native American myth. It is a refreshing change from the typical children's book and rich with an opportunity to teach some of the lessons of life which most children are bound to encounter as they grow. I would recommend it.

My preschool-aged grandchildren loved this book that I had purchased from Amazon, particularly the illustrations with their vibrant colors and stylized characters. We had fun reading the book together. There was enough action in the storyline to hold their interest but yet nothing too scary for their young minds to visualize. Their Mother appreciated that! All in all, this book is a good one to share with the younger children in your family and a nice way to introduce them to the Coyote Trickster character.